Although my topic can be very broad, when I chose it I did so because of one issue that has arose in recent years. Lavena Johnson was a 19 year old Army soldier who was killed while serving in Iraq. Johnson was the first woman soldier from Missouri to die while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Although the Army ruled it a suicide, all of the evidence collected proves otherwise. This is a perfect instance of not only racial, but sexual discrimination that exists in our military system today.
Lavena Johnson was a 19 year old African American woman who was raped and murdered by someone from her own base, and the Army covered it up probably so they wouldn't deface the criminals who committed this heinous crime. There were bruises all over her body as well as burn marks around her vaginal area, suggesting someone trying to burn away any possible DNA evidence that might lead to the actual truth. Johnson's parents have turned in every possible direction to find answers, even to Congress, the one body of people that can hold the military accountable, and they have still been denied the truth.
Lavena Johnson's story is one horrible example of the discrimination that black people as well as women are still facing in the armed forces, and this is something that absolutely cannot be tolerated. You can read more about what women think of the issue at Salon, a women's rights website.
1 comment:
I can not believe this blog! This is saddening because I had no clue that this was happening to our women soldiers. With all the evidence that was provided and hearing the end result is frightening. To know that she joined the military to help protect us and this is what happened to her is infuriating.
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